Lubricant dispenser



Nov. 8, 1960 s. A. MINERA LUBRICANT DISPENSER Filed Sept. 15, 1958INVENTOR. SALl/ADOR A. M/NERA WWRW United States Patent Ofiice.

LUBRICANT DISPENSER Salvador A. Minera, 133 Jules, San FranciscogCalif.

Filed Sept. 15, 1958, Ser. No. 760,926

7 Claims. (Cl. 184-37)- This invention relates to a lubricantdispenserand has for one of its objects the provision of alubricant'dispenser'that is adapted to progressively discharge alubricant,

such as grease, to a bearing surface for lubricating the latter.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a'grease'dispenserin which a cellulosematerial of the typeadapted to substantially changeits'size; or dimensions under a change in the moisturecontent isoperatively associated with a body of a lubricant to'apply pressure tosuch body upon its change in the dimension of the cellulose material dueto a change in its-moisture content, to thereby effect a discharge'ofthelubricant;

to a bearing surface.

Astill further object ofthe invention is the-provision of a greasedispenser in which the "grease-to'be dispensed Fig. 2 is a sectionalview showing a modificatio'nof the' housing of Fig. 1 in that thecellulose has 'a collapsible liner of a different moisture resistantplastic of-Neo-" prene or the like.

Fig. 3 is a side elevational view of a still further-form;

of the invention.

Fig. 4 is a sectional view taken,along linei4-4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a reduced size part sectional and'partt'elevational view of aform of the invention in which means is provided for controlling thetime and rate of discharge of the grease andfor maintaining the plasticmaterial against contraction when in storage or when being carried todifferent places preparatory to installing thedis penser.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view throughagreasedis penser of a typein which the expansion of theicellulose, when wetted, effects adischarge of thegrease, instead of one in which the contraction of thecellulose,-when drying, is utilized to discharge the grease.

In detail, referring to Fig. 1 the dispenserillust-rated comprises arigid base generally designated l; which base is provided with a stem 2,the-lowerend 'ofwhieh is'externally threaded for securement inthe-threadedopeningof a bearing 3 that-extends to a shaft 4, Orotherpart, to be lubricated.

This stem may have'a wrench engagingportionS there== on and the upperend -of-the stem is formed =with afrusto-conical surface 6 above athreaded portion 7, said frusto-conical portion terminating in anupstanding-nipple 8. A central open ended bore 9 may extendaxially ofthe stem and through the nipple for conducting grease to bearing 3.

A hollow member 10 may be supported on the'nipple 8.

Base 1 may further'include a nut 11 adapted to threadedly engage thethreaded portion 7 of the stem, and said nut has a frusto-conical innersurface that is comple .mentary to the frusto-conical surface 6 of thestem.

A housing 12, the wallsof which are substantially pure cellulose isprovided with an opening through which the upper end of stem 2 and themember 10 are adapted to extend into the housing. The lower marginalper-'- tion 13 of the plastic housing is adapted to be tightly securedbetween the frusto-conical surfaces on the nut* 11 and stem 2. Thishousing contains the grease or oil 14 that is adapted to be dispensed,and member- 10 is perforated as at 15 so the grease may pass through itand into bore 9.

Preferably, an outer perforated shell 16 spaced out wardly of thehousing 12 encloses the latter. This shell- .may be threaded onto nut 11and its perforations 17 may vary in number, according to how fasttheplastic is-to 5 contract.

The cellulose'of housing 12 is of the same or similar character to thatused in banding machines for placing plastic bands on the necks ofbottles, and is held in an aqueous solution, such as approximately 90%distilled water; apreservative, glycerine and a pacifier until ready Thecellulose-readily takes up the moisture,

for use. but is not noticeably affected by the grease, hence-as theplastic dries the grease is slowly forced out of the hous-' ing and intothe bearing.

The'main difference between Figs. 1 and 2 is that in Fig. 2 thecellulose plastic housing 20 is around a flexible collapsible liner orinner housing 21 of a polymerized chloroprene such as Neoprene or'othercollapsible plastic 'h'aving similar characteristics such as butadiene,etc.- As the moisture evaporates from the outer housing 1, it

will contract to collapse the Neoprene liner or inner housing 21 toforce the lubricant into the hearing.

In 'Fig. 3 a cylindrical sided cup or housing 23is provided; which cuphas a base member 24. member, in turn, has the same threaded portion 25integraltherewith as-in Figs. 1, 2 for securing the cup in;

a bearing.

The cup 23 contains grease 26 to be discharged through the'bore 27 *thatextends through the portion 25 and.

- base member 24;

Aplunger 28 -is vertically slidable in the cup 23whichi plunger may haveany suitable means, such as-cup Wash-. er 29 for making a tight slidingseal with the cylindrical inner wall of the cup.

A piston rod 30 projects upwardly from the piston and is rigidlyconnected with the head 31 of cap 32 having a cylindrical skirt 33depending from head 31, which skirt is slidab-le over the cup 23.

A pair of spaced ribs 34 are formed on the headfilf andan endless band35 of shrinkable cellulose of the same typeas that ofhousing 12 hasreturn bends at its.

opposite ends. Said band is adapted to extend across the head 31 betweensaid ribs 34. The bends at opposite ends of said band are respectivelyadapted tofiti over parallel lateral pins 36 that are rigid with thebase;

24 of thecup at opposite sides of the latter.

In operation, .the cup or housing 23 is filled with grease: 26Jthatissupported on base member 24 and the plunger: and cap are then:respectively, positioned within; andeoverii 'the cup: The :operator-zthen shooksythe aendsz of a avatern saturated endless band 35 overpins 36 with the band Patented Nov. 8, 1960 This baset.

disposed between ribs 34 and taut against the cap. As the band slowlydries it will shrink and force the cap and plunger downward to forcegrease through bore 21 into the bearing. In this manner a continuoussupply of grease is fed to the bearing.

After the band 28 has contracted or shrunk to its full limit, the cup 26may readily be refilled and a new band positioned over the cap 32. Thesebands are cheap, and can readily be cut from a tube of the cellulosematerial.

Fig. 6 shows a dispenser in which a cup 38 is provided for the grease 39and which cup has a threaded base 41 adapted to screw into the bearing.This base is formed with a through bore 42 for the grease, and adjacentto base 41, the cup may be formed with a refilling nipple 43 providedwith a passageway 44 through which grease may be injected into cup 38for refilling the latter. A check valve 45 in passageway 44 preventsdischarge of the grease.

The upper end of the cup is provided with a piston 46 having a centralprojection 47 thereon having an outside contour complementary to that ofthe inner side of the cup 38 at its lower end.

Above the piston 46 is a chamber 48 the bottom wall of which is thepiston 46, and the top wall being the upper end 49 of the cup 33. Thischamber contains a supply of dry regenerated cellulose 50 that isadapted to expand to many times its original dry volume. The upper endor head 49 is formed with an upwardly opening cup 52 and a bore 53communicates between the bottom of cup 52 and the chamber 43, while afine screen or other porous material, as indicated, may be in the upperend of the chamber extending across the bore 53 so as to permit thedownward passage of water therethrough, but which will prevent thecellulose from moving into said bore when it expands.

This dispenser is particularly designed for lubricating bearings thatare exposed to the rain and to the elements in relatively inaccessibleplaces which the workmen usually ignore during a rain. When the rainmoistens the cellulose Ell it will expand and will slowly force thegrease 39 into the hearing. The dispenser may readily and quickly berefilled through the nipple 43 and the expanded cellulose may be quicklyreplaced by dry cellulose whenever desired, and when convenient to doso.

Fig. shows one manner in which grease dispensers may be prepared andstored for use.

Stem 55 and its threaded lower end 56 may be identical with stem 2 andthe threaded lower end of the latter, and the cellulose housing 57 inFig. 5 may have a liner 58 the same as in Fig. 2, or the liner may beomitted as in Fig. 1.

Instead of the shell 16 of Figs. 1 and 2, an outer imperforate jacket 59of any suitable water proof material may be provided. This jacket has anopening in its upper end that may be closed by a removable cap 60 and aremovable cap 61 may close the lower end of the stem 55.

This jacket is screwed onto the outer threads of the upper portion ofstem 55 the same as shell 16 is screwed onto stem. 2.

Whether or not the inner hollow perforated member 65 as shown in Fig. 5is used is not particularly important.

Grease 66 fills the housing 57, and water 67 plus a small amount ofglycerine and a preservative fills the jacket 59, or substantially fillsit.

The grease cellulose housing will remain expanded indefinitely underthis arrangement, hence the dispensers can be prepared and stored in anydesired quantity.

In use, the exhausted dispenser may be removed from a bearing, and cap61 is removed and screwed into the bearing. After this, cap 60 may beremoved. If desired the water 67 may be emptied from jacket 59 beforethe dispenser is screwed into the bearing, or if desired, part or all ofthe water may be left in the jacket so that shrinkage of the cellulosehousing will be quite slow and delayed, until drying of the housingcommences.

After the maximum shrinkage of the cellulose has occurred, a filledfresh housing may replace the shrunken one and the water 67 is replaced,and the dispenser is ready for use again, or when caps 60, 61 are againused the dispenser is ready for storage and future use.

I claim:

1. A lubricant dispenser for dispensing lubricant to a bearing,comprising: a housing for a body of lubricant and a body of saidlubricant filling said housing, a base member supporting said housingand having a fitting for releasably securing said base member to abearing, an open ended discharge passageway extending through saidfitting and into communication with said body of lubricant, said housingcomprising walls of shrinkable cellulose material adapted to transmitpressure to said body upon shrinkage thereof for forcing said lubricantout of said passageway.

2. A lubricant dispenser for dispensing lubricant to a bearing,comprising: a housing for a body of lubricant and a body of saidlubricant filling said housing, a base member supporting said housingand having a fitting for releasably securing said base member to abearing, an open ended discharge passageway extending through saidfitting and into communication with said body of lubricant, said housingcomprising walls of shrinkable cellulose material adapted to transmitpressure to said body upon shrinkage thereof for forcing said lubricantout of said passageway, said housing further including a flexible linerof plastic material adapted to be in direct contact with said body oflubricant and collapsible under pressure from said cellulose material.

3. A lubricant dispenser for dispensing lubricant to a bearing,comprising; a housing for a body of lubricant and a body of saidlubricant filling said housing, a base member supporting said housingand having a fitting for releasably securing said base member to abearing, an open ended discharge passageway extending through saidfitting and into communication with said body of lubricant, said housingcomprising walls of shrinkable cellulose material adapted to transmitpressure to said body upon shrinkage thereof for forcing said lubricantout of said passageway, an outer enclosure of rigid material enclosingsaid housing and formed with openings for admitting air to the walls ofsaid housing and for placing said walls of said housing in communicationwith the atmosphere.

4. In combination with a bearing, a lubricant dispenser including a basemember having a fitting secured to said bearing, a housing carried bysaid base member and a body of lubricant filling said housing, adischarge passageway opening into said bearing at one end thereof andinto said housing at its opposite end, said housing including a plungerin engagement with the side of said body opposite to said base member,and shrinkable, moisture saturated plastic material adapted to shrink tosubstantially smaller dimensions upon vaporization of the moisturetherein extending between said plunger and said base member for urgingsaid plunger against said lubricant and out of said discharge passagewayupon shrinkage of said plastic material.

5. A lubricant dispenser including a body of lubricant and a rigidsupport therefor having a discharge aperture for discharge of saidlubricant therethrough upon application of pressure to the lubricant ofsaid body, means for applying said pressure comprising a materialresponsive upon a change in the moisture content thereof to a change inits dimension, said material being operatively associated with said bodyfor applying pressure to the lubricant of said body upon said change inthe moisture content thereof and the resulting change in the dimensionof said material, and means for holding said material in its operativeassociation with said body for applying said pressure to the lubricantof said body.

6. A lubricant dispenser comprising; a body of lubricant, a rigidsupport for said lubricant having a discharge aperture for discharge ofsaid lubricant therethrough upon application of pressure against saidbody, a cellulose material responsive upon a change in the moisturecontent thereof to a change in its dimension, said material beingoperatively associated with said body for applying pressure to thelubricant of said body, upon a change in the moisture content thereofand the resulting change in the dimension of said material, and meansfor holding said material in its said association with said body, saidlast mentioned means including said support and a clamp for clampingsaid material to said support with said material extending over saidbody of lubricant.

7. A lubricant dispenser comprising; a base member References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 522,204 Hallock July 3,1894 1,675,302 Roemer June 26, 1928 1,891,544 Kerns Dec. 20, 19321,991,059 Norwood Feb. 12, 1935

